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Open Poetry #24
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Peter J Marcroft
Member
since 2003-02-02
Posts 265
York, England

0 posted 2003-02-09 06:05 PM



Into these caves of fire we sail
Upon a vessel of evil,
Guided by, the disciples, of he who fell
Into the fire to become the devil

Onto this journey, I have been drawn,
Traversing slowly through these nine plains,
Hell, is the power master, and I am the fawn
Trapped here, within the shadow of the flames

"Abandon all hope, those who enter here
For this is where all things are left behind
In the shadow's of the flames they sear
The visitors always seeing like the blind."

Fear rises within me, as the journey goes on,
Into the second plain, of brimstone and ash,
Fire and lava, flow forever down,
Incinerated within evil's wrath

The three headed beast, its fangs lash out
Crunching through rock and flame,
Furthers, the encroaching doubt,
That rises within, along with my shame

Through the plains we sail, within the nightmare,
Tortured souls, they scream and burn,
Forever screaming, for their souls to be spare,
Desperate to be the one, for the next turn

The twisted beast laughs, and draws us ever back,
Unto the anguish and suffering,
Hideous imps, relentlessly attack,
And the image burns in, like a live drawing

Through to the fifth plain, our journey moves,
Evil imps stand screeching out her name,
The voices cutting through stone, creating grooves,
And then she emerges, encased in flame

The queen of vipers, the queens of serpants,
Her eyes cast their souls to stone,
She absorbs the life of mindless servants,
Before sitting once more, on her fiery throne

The voyage trudges on, through the fire and the dark,
Fallen souls scream, as they are stung, by demon's breath,
Limbs flow, like they were devoured by a shark,
Within this place of suffering and death

Through the ninth gate we sail, slowly reaching the end,
The boatmaster, smiles and laughs loud,
"You have done well to survive so far my friend,
Now survive my master and the gods shall truly be proud."

Into the chasm we travel, no turning back,
The heat from the fire, burning skin,
The room spins then fades to black
And I feel the encroaching madness within

I awake, to a hellish vision, of an overlord,
Scaled, horned and surrounded by fire,
By his side, hangs a great sword,
While beside him, condemned souls fall into hell's mire,

"Why do you come here Dante?  What do you wish to prove?"
"I wanted to see what your fabled hell truly was..."
The hideous beast laughs a frightful move,
"And now you have seen it, in all its force

But now the key question, do I let you leave?
You have trespassed on a realm not your own,
If you died, would anyone up there grieve?
Or of your legacy, would they callously disown?"

I ignore the taunts and cling to my faith,
"Forever a coward you are lucifer,
You claim life like a soulless wraith,
Then again, what more would I expect from hell's master?"

Fire flashes from his fingers and scorch my robes,
I scream in agony, as flames tear at me,
My eyes spin, seeing burning and dying globes,
All to the concerto of Lucifer's glee

"Impudent mortal, how dare you defy?
Here in this place that is mine
Where I can cast fire upon you and make you die,
And your soul, in fiery light, shall forever shine."

"If that is true, then why do I live?
Are you afraid to take me so?
Is my strength, forcing your mind to give?
And make me leave this place of woe?

The gods were right, you were always weak,
Too proud to accept the ways that were,
Desperate to rise and claim what you seek,
By hook or crook, to you it was all fair.

But I defy you lucifer, as I defy your hell,
And if death is the price then so it be,
So kill me now and I'll say farewell,
Before rising to the place that is free.

Beyond the flames and the darkness,
Where the angels caress and sing,
I shall look down upon you with great pitniess,
As I see the souls still burning."

His rage flows into a gastly inferno,
Flames raging with great force,
His fingers flash into a dazzling concerto,
Of ghastly fire and death's painful course.

The shackles of the flesh shudder and break,
From out of the fire, I fly,
The burden of this journey I had to undertake,
In case of another who could not bear to die

So, to the amount of souls I saved, mourn me not,
My path chosen was my own,
And in this glory, I shall never rot,
With the angel's I shall never be alone...

© Copyright 2003 Peter J Marcroft - All Rights Reserved
the_loner_23
Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
1 posted 2003-02-09 06:15 PM


I really liked this a lot

Cold hands means a warm heart

Peter J Marcroft
Member
since 2003-02-02
Posts 265
York, England
2 posted 2003-02-09 06:21 PM


I am glad you enjoyed it, I must state that liked writing this piece alot too so I am glad it came out well enough for people to like it
paladin
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2001-08-05
Posts 930
Pensacola,Fl.
3 posted 2003-02-09 09:27 PM


I believe we create our own hell while we live.Then we spent eternity in it when we die if we are not redeemed by God.

paladin

....a knight without armor

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
4 posted 2003-02-09 09:39 PM


You have written a masterpiece here Peter!
Amazing!
~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~

~ Trace my body with your words..
And in doing so, you touch my heart. ~

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
5 posted 2003-02-09 11:30 PM


You can pat yourself on the back for this one! Powerful on all accounts! Gripping! Keep 'em coming Peter!

Valentine hugs,
EA

Peter J Marcroft
Member
since 2003-02-02
Posts 265
York, England
6 posted 2003-02-10 05:03 AM


I am pleased that you all approve, I hope to write more epics soon, when I find more time
Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
7 posted 2003-02-13 02:24 PM


I felt the flames encircling me, this is a powerful poem.
....and to think that Lucifer was the most beautiful of Angels ...
Dante's inferno is frightening indeed, but we have the power to stay in the light.
And indeed in the end of your poem we can breathe again ...
Margherita

Peter J Marcroft
Member
since 2003-02-02
Posts 265
York, England
8 posted 2003-02-14 08:00 PM


Thank you all for the comments, I have not posted in a few days as my material has currently run dry, although I have started another epic and when it is done you lot shall be first to see it
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